CRPS occurs after surgery or an injury
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a rare chronic pain syndrome that affects the arm or leg after trauma or surgery. It is characterized by a burning pain in the leg, foot, hand or arm. Other symptoms include sensitivity and temperature changes in the skin.
A recent study, appearing in the American edition of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (2007; 89(7): 1424-31) looked at the effect vitamin C supplementation had on the development of CRPS. The subjects of the randomized, placebo-controlled study were 416 patients with wrist fractures. They were divided into four groups and received either a placebo, 200 mg/day of vitamin C, 500 mg/day of vitamin C or 1500 mg/day of vitamin C for a period of 50 days. In the group receiving the placebo, 10.1% developed CRPS, compared to 4.2% in the group receiving 200 mg/day of vitamin C. Only 1.8% of the group receiving 500 mg/day and 1.7% of the group receiving 1500 mg/day of vitamin C developed CRPS. A low dose of vitamin C reduced the risk of developing CRPS by 59%, while higher doses (500 mg and 1500 mg) reduced the risk by 83%.
